India Takes Middle Road in Manila-Beijing Dispute

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao during the BRICS summit in New Delhi on March 29, 2012.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs urged China and the Philippines to “exercise restraint” and resolve their brewing row over ownership of a set of islands in the South China Sea through diplomacy.

New Delhi’s position is notable because it shows the country will not always side with China’s opponents in territorial disputes, as many might assume.

Advertisement

But by raising its voice, India also is signaling it’s ready to assume a larger diplomatic role in the region, part of a “Look East” policy that since its inception in the 1990s has come to little but in recent months appears to be taking shape.

The longstanding ownership row over the small islands – known as Scarborough Shoal in the Philippines and Huangyan in China – has erupted again in the past month after Manila intercepted Chinese fishing vessels in the area.

A large anti-Chinese demonstration is planned for today in Manila and Beijing has warned its citizens over travel to the Philippines.

About Southeast Asia Real Time

Indonesia Real Time provides analysis and insight into the region, which includes Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei. Contact the editors at SEAsia@wsj.com.

Islamic State is providing “fresh oxygen” to extremist groups in Muslim-majority Indonesia, says a police official. What impact could the group known as ISIS have on Indonesia? And how is the government working to curb the danger? Here’s the short answer.